The 15 best Mexican restaurants in Austin

Although Barton Springs Road has plenty of family-friendly (tourist-friendly) dining options, it hasn’t always drawn restaurants with serious culinary reputations. El Alma's sprawling, multitiered footprint is a step in the right direction— its well-rounded menu offers a refreshing variety of tacos (like lamb barbacoa and shrimp al pastor) as well as hearty entrees to refuel after swimming. Don't miss the duck enchiladas, their most popular dish, served with pasilla molé and almonds.

Veracruz All Natural, helmed by sisters Reyna and Maritza Vazquez, has mastered both the Mexican restaurant and the taco trailer. Universally beloved for their migas and al pastor, their trailers set themselves apart from Austin’s other taco trucks thanks to super fresh ingredients and little additions like housemade chips and juices. Their loyal following continues to their brick-and-mortar locations in Tarrytown, Round Rock, and downtown Austin.

El Naranjo began as a food trailer on Rainey Street before becoming an over-run bar district. The owners, Oaxacan ex-pats (who still return to lead regular culinary tours), now operate a brick-and-mortar in Austin’s South Lamar neighborhood where their Mexican roots shine in plates like seasonal ceviche and a pair of standout molé dishes (lighter amarillo and a 30-ingredient negro).

Fonda San Miguel may be a classic, but its flavors have never gone out of style. Since 1975, the colorful Allandale institution, adorned with a museum's worth of sculptural art, has celebrated the entirety of Mexican cuisine since day one. From cochinita pibil of the Yucatan, to broiled fish of Vera Cruz, regional specialties are prepared with flair and seasoned technique.

La Condesa serves a hip take on traditional Mexican fare inside one of the city's most dazzling spaces. A vibrant, oversized mural frames the dining room where trendy Austinites dig (and dig into) the restaurant’s signature mole, a specialty that takes three days to cook. The patio, which overlooks Guadalupe Street, is perhaps one of the city's few and truly urban-feeling happy hour destinations—visit for sweet deals on (mostly tequila-based) drinks.

It’s hard to resist joining the fiesta at downtown’s colorful Polvos restaurant: it’s forever packed with locals knocking together pitchers of margaritas, dipping salsa, and of course, noshing on great big plates of authentic Mexican cuisine. First-timers should try the ceviche de pescado, a rich mahi-mahi in Polvos’ addictive house sauce, and the extra hungry can get their fill on the steak polvos, an 8-ounce ribeye served with an enchilada of your choice. In addition to the downtown outpost, there are two other locations to join the party (South Austin and Barton Creek).

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Manor Road is a hub for breakfast tacos. Although Chilito's Cherrywood is a neighborhood favorite, the homestyle approach at Mi Madre’s makes their migas taste as if a loving parent made them. For years, Mi Madre’s only served breakfast and lunch, but the street's boom in the last five years led to an expansion—finally, dinner service is on the table. You’ll find unconventional appetizers like al pastor fries and mole wings and more traditional dishes like roasted goat pasilla and chicken-filled chile relleno.

Riverside is a hotbed of traditional Mexican joints, and with much respect to Taco More's salsa bar and goat soup, the most charming spot is El Taquito. Perched high above street level, the restaurant—founded by Tamaulipas immigrants—has dished late-night taquitos by the half dozen since 1995. The restaurant’s late closing time (1am on weekends) makes it a winning alternative to the strip's fast food chains with an undeniably great al pastor taco. An extended menu of quesos fundido and enchiladas also makes it more than just a taco spot, and the market-style option to buy meat by the pound can turn your kitchen into a legit taqueria (just don't forget the onions and cilantro).

South Lamar’s newest taqueria is already a firm favorite with locals clamoring to get a dose of their signature papas rellenas, tortas and bowls. Why? Because it has grandma’s magic touch!  Chef Campos’ cooks them up just like his grandmother did, even the flour, and yellow and blue corn tortillas, which are all made in-house. Don’t miss the slow-roasted barbacoa from Guerrero and Mexico City-style suadero. Masa y Màs is a counter-service style restaurant with a dining room

Although it shuts down at 3pm, sunlight pours into Habanero Cafe during breakfast and lunch as a melting pot of South Austinites digs into some of the best no-frills Mexican food in town. Most of the decor comes from beer companies, but the vintage neon signs and tiled Corona mosaics add to its homestyle charm. Don't miss the chicken fajitas, made with a thick rub of chile powder that debunks the misconception that all fajitas are created equal. It's cash-only here, but the lunch specials make filling up for less than a Hamilton easy.

Shoppers who need a break from 2nd Street can settle in at ATX Cocina, a modern Mexican oasis where chef Kevin Taylor puts a gourmet spin on quesadillas and the like. Go for the sopes layered with cochinita pibil, smoked beans, xnipek and salsa verde, or dip into elevated queso fundido at the crudo bar on their breezy patio. It may be one of the more upscale Mexican restaurants, but they don’t skimp on portion size (at least not on mains, anyway). The house Paloma is brilliant, made with grapefruit four ways: as a foam, a juice, a simple syrup, and infused in reposado tequila.

Suerte serves authentic Mexican cuisine with a contemporary edge over in East Austin. Using local heirloom corn, Chef Fermin Nunez crafts seasonally driven dishes like goat rib barbacoa with handmade tortillas and tetela al carbon. A sizable mezcal and tequila menu is available, and you'll find both spirits in Suerte's specialty cocktails: for an especially refreshing drink, the Nada Paloma is made with mezcal, tequila blanco, and housemade grapefruit soda.

This recent concept, located within the Fareground food hall, is led by James Beard-nominated chef Richard Sandoval and executive chef Albert Gonzalez. It’s Mexican street food at its very best: familiar yet totally authentic, the menu is packed with flavor. You’ll find tacos served with charred tomato salsa, burritos filled with Chicken Tinga, sweet Mexican ice pops, and staple drinks like aguas frescas in hibiscus or housemade horchata.

Mi Tradicion is often rated as the best Mexican bakery in Austin by the local press, so it's no big surprise that their selection of pan dulces is unparalleled. With two locations, the bakery serves enough cookies, empanadas, and doughnuts to send any sweet tooth into a tailspin, but these kitchens crank out more than just sweets. The bakery’s lunch menu offers up tacos, tortas, and blue corn quesadillas that are as authentic as it gets. Pro-tip: Buy a bag of their surprisingly sweet tortillas to take home (you won't regret it).

La Piscina on downtown’s 2nd street is one of the more stylish Mexican eateries ideal for date night. The team takes classic Mexican dishes and elevates them; some are in Tex-Mex style, but others simply are authentically Mexican with modern presentation. Start with the fresh baja oysters, share the sizzling fajitas, and end with the housemade churros. An extensive small-batch tequila and mezcal list can be found at the bar.